How to Break Free from Stagnation
Unstuck yourself and regain your flow
Life can sometimes be like hikers missing their way and losing their bearing in a treacherous terrain.
You may just reach a point where there is no way forward, and going back is not even a better option.
You are stuck in the middle of all kinds of uncomfortable and unpleasant realities.
How do you get yourself out of the rut?
What to do
I found out that the Bible provides relevant examples and principles for many of the challenges we find in life.
Let’s explore what the Bible says to encourage people who are stuck in their journeys through life.
Avoid self-pity — Don’t just sit by the rivers of Babylon and weep like the children of Israel (Psalm 137:1, KJV). Wallowing in tears of regret will not help.
Stand still—In Exodus 14:13–14 (KJV), we see the nerve-wracking drama at the Red Sea. The Israelites would not have seen the miracle of the Red Sea without standing still so that God could perform His wonders.
I know it’s counterintuitive to ask someone who is already stuck to stand still.
But sometimes, all you need to get out of the rut is to stand still. It is so easy that many people miss it.
Stand still so you can see and hear more clearly.
Stand on the rock — When you are lost and stuck, you need a solid footing. Moses wanted to see God more clearly but he had to first stand on a rock (Exodus 33:21–23, KJV). There are things you can’t see until you stand on a higher ground.
That solid rock is Jesus Christ, and only through Him can you access higher grounds by faith.
Hide in the rock — If the conditions are really bad, you may need a hiding place. In 1 Kings 17:2–6 (KJV), God had to hide Elijah where ravens were feeding him day and night.
In certain seasons and circumstances, God may hide you.
You may have a problem with that if all you want is fame and recognition. But if you trust God, you will come out stronger.
Wait and trust — This is the hardest part. Anxiety and fear festers impatience. You need to wait. Just wait, and God will surely visit you and renew your strength (Isa 40:31, KJV).
Rest in his presence — You need to be at rest while waiting. This is important because it’s dangerous to be anxious and agitated while waiting for help to arrive.
According to Exodus 33:14 (KJV), God’s presence guarantees rest. If you learn to tap into God’s presence even in the worst of times, you will find rest for your troubled soul.
Be mindful of shadows — Don’t get confused by shadows. When you are stuck in a bad place, it is easy to focus on the shadows of fear and death.
Learn to recognize and lean on a more powerful shadow — the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1, KJV). This is your cover. Be rest assured that this shadow completely overshadows the other shadows.
Having done all, stand (Ephesians 6:13, KJV) — You stand a better chance of being rescued if you are standing. Many people do so many things when they are in a bad situation but fail to stand.
Keep standing because help is on the way.
Move forward when God says so — Elijah was in hiding for a while, but one day, God commanded him to get going (1 Kings 17:8, KJV).
During the Exodus of the Israelites, the Red Sea could only keep the people for so long. But God made a way where there was no way so the people could move forward (Exodus 14:22, KJV).
Make that call
The role of divinity in humanity is the greatest ideological challenge of the modern age.
We struggle to admit that the universe is bigger than us. We struggle to accept that we don’t have all the answers and that we don’t always have what it takes.
We have lost the ability to seek and accept supernatural help.
You may not feel it. You are not meant to feel it. But divine help has always been within reach.
God sees you even in the darkest moments of your life. He can hear you from the deepest parts of any valley. He is not limited by geography, time, and space.
Call on God today by faith through Jesus Christ, and He will come and save you — wherever you are.
